WIPO Assembly Still Divided On Normative Work On Traditional Knowledge 13/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Discussions on the future of the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on traditional knowledge and genetic resources are heating up as some developed countries seek to delay normative work for the next biennium and favour information sessions, and developing countries are eager to go back to discussion on actual treaty texts.
A New Model For IP: Interview With Ecuador IP Office Director Hernán Núñez Rocha 13/10/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Ecuador is preparing a new intellectual property policy that aims to better suit the country’s strategic development. On the occasion of the World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly, Hernán Núñez Rocha, head of the Ecuadorian IP office sat with Intellectual Property Watch to talk about the country’s work on the IP policy and its use of IP as a tool for local development. He also explained Ecuador’s position on the WIPO committee on traditional knowledge.
WTO TRIPS Council To Decide On LDC Pharma Extension, Non-Violation Complaints 13/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The intellectual property committee of the World Trade Organization is meeting this week with a full agenda. The highlight of the agenda is the extension of a waiver allowing least developed countries to choose not to enforce intellectual property rights on pharmaceutical products. Also high on the agenda is a decision on whether to extend a moratorium banning IP from complaints not linked to any breached WTO agreement, and the annual review of special compulsory licence for exporting pharmaceutical products.
Resale Right Should Be Added To WIPO Copyright Committee, Authors Say 12/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Resale right, which refers to royalties that visual artists can claim on the resale of their work by art dealers, should be discussed at the World Intellectual Property Organization, according to an international association of authors. An international harmonised framework does not currently exist.
G7 Health Ministers Propose Incentives For New Antibiotics, Commit Help On Ebola 12/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The health ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) most developed countries have issued a declaration on antimicrobial resistance and Ebola. The governments said they would explore innovative economic incentives to promote research and development of new antibiotics, such as a global antibiotic research fund and a market entry reward mechanism.
International Red Cross ‘Makeathon’ To Help Persons With Disabilities In Rural Areas 10/10/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will launch in November the Enable Makeathon, a programme aimed at developing affordable solutions for persons with disabilities in rural areas.
Chatham House Report On Antibiotics Gives Evidence For Drug R&D Delinkage 09/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new report from Chatham House presenting suggestions for novel business models for antibiotics calls for models in which the return on investment in research and development is not dependent on the volume of sales, also known as delinkage.
WIPO General Assembly Halfway Point – Many Issues Left Open 08/10/2015 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment At mid-point of the annual World Intellectual Property Organization General Assembly, numerous items are unresolved, and several facilitators are in charge of finding consensus on draft decisions, in particular on norm-setting issues and the budget of the UN organisation.
Plant Treaty Governing Body Examines Budget, Farmers Rights, Funding Strategy 08/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The governing body of the international plant treaty is holding its annual meeting this week with a number of issues to go through, in particular the adoption of the next biennium budget, and the funding strategy of the treaty.
“No Human Right To Patent Protection,” Says UN Rapporteur On Cultural Rights 08/10/2015 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments In a new report, the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights examines the implications of patent policy for the right to science and culture. She gives a number of recommendations calling for countries to refrain from granting stringent patent protection, and respect their human right obligations.